What Day Is Labor Day?

Labor Day is on the first Monday of September every year and is a national holiday in the US. It has its origins in the labor movement and is a day to celebrate American workers.

People celebrate Labor Day with picnics, sports events, and street parades. The American football season begins on—or around—Labor Day.

Why don't the US celebrate in May, like the rest of the world?

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day has become the unofficial end of summer—after Labor Day Weekend, kids are back to school.

For many, it is the last chance to take a break before school starts again for the fall session, and people take advantage of the long weekend to take a last summer trip. As a result, there may be extra traffic on highways and at airports.

History of Labor Day

Labor Day has deep roots in the 130 years of the labor movement and its efforts to improve working conditions in America. It is also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day and is celebrated on May 1 internationally.

With the growth of the Industrial Revolution came the demand for labor and trade unions. Around the 1850s, eight-hour movements across the world aimed to reduce the working day from ten to eight hours. At its first congress in 1886, the American Federation of Labour called for a general strike in Chicago on May 1 to demand an eight-hour day, which culminated in what is known today as the Haymarket affair.